During the Cold War, Vienna’s status as a neutral city made it a hub for intelligence agencies from around the world. For Scorpio, the Austrian capital provided an authentic backdrop for a story of espionage and betrayal. Alongside Vienna’s famous landmarks, the filmmakers also used quiet side streets and traditional Durchhäuser—passageways running through residential buildings that connect two streets. These uniquely Viennese shortcuts create atmospheric settings rarely seen outside the city.

Throughout the film, Vienna has a dark, mysterious atmosphere. Even elegant locations such as Café Landtmann cannot completely dispel the tension. Much of the story unfolds at dusk or during the night, as Burt Lancaster’s character, a veteran intelligence agent on the run, fights for survival.

Mölker Bastei

Once again, the picturesque Mölker Bastei and the adjoining Mölker Steig prove to be irresistible film locations. Burt Lancaster’s first scene in Vienna takes place here at twilight, and director Michael Winner pays clear homage to the classic film The Third Man, which famously used Vienna’s atmospheric streets to unforgettable effect.

Karlsplatz

Karlsplatz is almost unrecognizable in Scorpio. Where busy streets and public squares stand today, there was once a massive construction site for Vienna’s new subway system. In that sense, the film serves as a remarkable historical time capsule. The enormous excavation became the setting for one of the movie’s most exciting chase sequences.

Palmenhaus

Covering approximately 2,500 square meters (around 27,000 square feet) and rising up to 25 meters (82 feet) high, the Palmenhaus is one of Europe’s largest historic greenhouses. By day, it delights visitors with its impressive collection of exotic plants. In Scorpio, however, it becomes the backdrop for a tense nighttime pursuit, revealing a darker and more ominous side of this elegant glass structure.

Before arriving in Vienna, the production filmed in Washington, D.C., where the cast and crew stayed at the Watergate Hotel. Remarkably, they were there during the infamous break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters—an event that sparked the Watergate scandal and ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon.

In Vienna, Burt Lancaster attracted enthusiastic crowds wherever he went, including during his regular tennis matches in the Prater. The constant attention from fans eventually became so overwhelming that he left the city immediately after filming wrapped.

With the obvious exception of the former subway construction site at Karlsplatz, nearly all of Scorpio‘s filming locations can still be visited today. From the Palmenhaus and Café Landtmann to Ulrichskirche and Raimundhof, Vienna offers plenty of opportunities to follow in the footsteps of this Cold War thriller.

Would you like to discover the original filming locations in person?

The FILMED ON LOCATION audio tour takes you to the most important Scorpio filming locations while sharing fascinating behind-the-scenes stories exactly where they happened. Find all the details here.

Before Sunrise

James Bond 007 – The Living Daylights

The Third Man

Extraction 2

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

The Boys from Brazil